HELP!

[clifford258]

Hey guys I am in desperate need of your help! I have two eggs in my homemade incubator. I made it out of a 10 gallon storage tote and a 90 watt light bulb and I sealed the lid with Door Weather Stripping. Now what is the absolute Min. and Max Temperature and Humidity. The eggs are from Red Sex link hen and Pearl Leghorn Hen mixed with a Amberlink Roo! Please help me guys before I lose the eggs!! Thank you
Clifford

 

[FFAChickenFan]

For starters, I just want to say that you should have had your incubator completely ready DAYS before you put your eggs in. If its been less than a week I would almost advise you to take them out and store them until the incubator is totally ready.

I would advise picking up an accurate thermometer that will let you watch the temperature and humidity, to start with. Also, I hope you didnt fully seal the lid, because you'll need to get into the incubator every once in a while, and there will also need to be air flow, otherwise your eggs will suffocate.

Keep the temperature between 98 and 101 fahrenheit (The optimal temperature that you are striving for is 99.5)
Keep the humidity between 55 and 70%
It will take 21 days for the eggs to hatch
Gently rotate the eggs 1/4 to 1/2 turn three times a day for the first 18 days
For the last three days of incubation do not rotate the eggs
It is quite ok to keep the humidity on the low end of the scale 55-65 for the first 15 days but try to get the humidity up to around 65-70 for the last few days. This will help the hatching.

Best of luck to you.

Edit: You might find this helpful, I know I sure did: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[clifford258]

Hey Thank you so much for the reply!!!!!!! I didn't fully seal the lid! also my temp is staying between 97.9-101.6 Also the Humidity is staying in the 50-66% range I have took notes every hour checking the temp, humidity, and to turn the egg at 8Am, 2Pm, and 8PM! One thing I don't have is air hole??? Is it possible to get by without them??? Thank you so much for your reply!

 

[FFAChickenFan]

Hey, no problem.

Try to not have your temperature fluxuate so much, its good that you're keeping it within the acceptable range, but eggs like a steady temp for most of the time.Keep the lid closed and if the temp is too high, poke an air hole or two. If too low, try moving the box into a warmer room of your house.

With the air hole, a lot of people argue that its okay to go without circulation for the first ten days, but after that you should definitely have some way for air to move at least a little in your incubator. I know it sounds crazy, but eggs CAN suffocate. Especially when your chicks start to hatch, you'll want a little air flow, or the results could be disastrous.

 

[clifford258]

Yay! Your awesome! I only have two eggs in incubator when Will I know if my eggs are dead???

 

[FFAChickenFan]

Well, if they start getting stinky obviously that's a sign.

To keep track of their growth and to make sure they're developing properly (and not dead), you'll want to candle them on day 7, 14 and 18 (before you put the eggs into lockdown).

I would really suggest reading that guide I linked you to. I'm sure it could answer a lot of your questions!

 

[clifford258]

Hey!!!! I might have good news this morning!!!! I candled my eggs its been 29 hours since I put them in incubator and both have a air pocket at the end of egg and a darkened area at the other end! Does this sound good???

 

[juliechick]

Hey!!!! I might have good news this morning!!!! I candled my eggs its been 29 hours since I put them in incubator and both have a air pocket at the end of egg and a darkened area at the other end! Does this sound good???

You won't be able to see anything developing after just 29 hours. At about 4-5 days you can see veins starting if they are going to develop.

 

[clifford258]

Hey if my eggs aren't going to hatch won't I get a awful odor??? If so at what day should I expect this?

 

[clifford258]

Ok I couldn't help it!!!!!!! I candeled my eggs and both have veins!!!!!!!